GETTING THE HEART OF THE CEO

"Mom! Let the baby go. This girl is innocent and has nothing to do with all this," Courney exclaimed, reaching the front of her mother with Oriana in her arms.

"Dear daughter!" She exclaimed with a big smile. "Look at you, carrying Fabricio's grandchild. He's thrilled to be a grandfather and is eagerly awaiting your arrival. Once that baby is born, we'll hand him over, and we can leave this country together. As for that brat, she'll be my gift so I can do whatever I want with the daughter of the man who killed my son."

Courney received an emotional shock, stunned by this news. She felt the ground move beneath her, unable to comprehend how her mother knew the man who made her live through her nightmare. Worse yet, her mother was narrating it calmly, indifferent to the suffering Courney had endured. She couldn't understand how her mother could be so cruel to her, sharing the same blood and having obediently followed her every command. She clung to the little girl in her arms and, with disappointment in her voice, replied, "I'll do whatever you want, but don't harm this child."

Karen let out a wicked laugh. "That's not up to me; Fabricio will take care of her." After a brief pause, she looked at her accomplice and said, "Catrina! Go fetch your son and that little girl."

Catrina glanced at two of the men. She wanted to snatch the boy from Maximiliano's arms herself. With an authoritative voice, she ordered, "You two, come with me. If you see any suspicious movement, don't hesitate to shoot." The men exchanged smiles, reveling in the prospect of spilled blood.

These women were a bit away from the hostages. Catrina took elegant steps toward her opponent, with Fabiana following her. The latter had the order to hand her daughter over to Fabricio to receive her reward. Onlookers stared in astonishment at the beautiful woman striding confidently with an icy gaze capable of freezing hell.

"Look who we have here, the little fox who sleeps with forbidden men. You disgust me, just like your stepfather. And the womanizer who likes trash as wives, what parents my son got stuck with. I'm here to take him away to give him a life away from corrupt people like you."

Maximiliano knew the intentions of that woman. Clenching his jaw, he declared, "Catrina, if you take my son away, and he suffers, I swear I'll kill you with my own hands."

"Be careful with your words and me; it might cost you dearly," she approached him while one of the men placed a gun to his forehead.

Max clung to his father's neck when he felt someone pulling him from his little belly. He didn't have enough strength to resist, and he began to let out heartbreaking screams as he was separated from his dad. Stefany's heart shattered as she heard her son's cries. She gritted her teeth, and her gaze darkened. She couldn't comprehend the cruelty of these women.

Catrina grabbed the child from behind and pressed him against her arms. Tears overflowed from her cold face; she was flooded with emotions. For the first time, she had her son in her arms, and her heart rejoiced with happiness. She whispered softly into the child's ear, "Be calm, my prince. You're with your mom now. Don't cry, my boy; soon you'll love me as I've always loved you."

"I'm not your real mom," he pointed with his little hand in Stefany's direction and, with his voice choked, said, "She's my mom, the one who has taken care of me since I was born. Please don't take me with you."

"I am your true mom. They kept you away from me, and now we're together, my love," she turned around and began to walk with her son struggling in her lap. She held him tightly to her chest but without causing him harm. Fabiana approached her daughter with a malicious smile, grabbed her tightly by her left arm, and tried to force her to walk.

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"Come on, someone is waiting for you."

"Why did you never love me? Do I produce so much hatred in you that you always treat me like trash?"

"You brought it upon yourself when you caught Francisco's eye. If you hadn't flirted with him, he wouldn't have become obsessed with you."

"In what universe does it make sense that an 11-year-old girl would seduce a 40-year-old man? I was scared of him from the first day he looked at me with those depraved eyes. I told you so you would protect me," she glanced at her with sarcasm and continued with a gruff voice. "What did you do? You threw me into that man's arms for your vice."

"Stop complaining. Anyone would think you didn't like what he did to you. Just walk; Fabricio is waiting for you. Since I know you like old men, I'll hand you over to one."

Maximiliano clenched his fists, and his teeth ground in his mouth with frustration for not being able to move. He still had the gun pressed to his forehead.

Stefany felt clouded; she felt like an object her mother could take and use at her whim. Tears collided with each other to be the first to pass through that sad face. She didn't measure the consequences and began to struggle with her mother. "This time I won't do your will. I'd rather be killed than go with you."

"Silly girl, either walk willingly, or you'll see what these men are capable of when they're forced."

The man who had aimed at Maximiano approached her and said, "You better cooperate, or I'll shoot you right here."

At that moment, gunshots rang out, followed by a loud exclamation from the center of the event.

"Everyone down, and don't lift your heads."

The man who threatened Stefany was shot down by Óscar. Maximiliano took the gun from that man and hid, starting to shoot at those aiming at his wife.

Stefany pushed her mom with all her strength and ran after Catrina, who walked hugging her son. When she got close, she turned her and began to struggle to take Max away. Max also fought to break free from the woman. Catrina, at a disadvantage, let the child go.

Stefany grabbed him, wasted no time in placing him on the ground, whispering firmly, "Max, lie down on the ground and cover your beautiful face with your little hands, like when we play hide and seek. No matter what you hear, don't look or lift your face."

He nodded and crawled under some nearby chairs, doing as his mom asked.